John Tortorella: Choice re-Torts

Vancouver Canucks head coach John Tortorella gestures to Calgary Flames players and their head coach Bob Hartley on their bench in the first period of the momentous Jan. 18, 2014 NHL game at Rogers Arena that netted the Canucks' bench boss a 15-day suspension.Photo by
Gerry Kahrmann

VANCOUVER — John Tortorella, while not quite as inflammatory in his comments while with the Canucks (as opposed to the New York Rangers, for instance) still has had some choice bon mots while here. Here are a selection:

June 25, 2013 – Tortorella is announced as the team’s new head coach and he immediately declares that the Sedin twins will get more ice time, kill penalties and block shots.

Quote: “There is going to be more asked of the veteran players and that starts from the twins right on down as far as accountability and asking them for more.”

Oct. 24, 2013 – Tortorella, as promised, plays the heck out of his veterans in the first three weeks of the season and says he isn’t concerned about the fatigue factor over the course of an 82-game schedule.

Quote: “You know what? I don't even look that far. I am trying to win tonight's game. You guys have that formula that they have to have certain amount of minutes here and you don't want to get them too tired. I don't believe in it. I believe in trying to win the next game. So we'll see where we go with it.”

Jan. 13, 2014 – Tortorella indicates that settling a physical score with the L.A. Kings, despite a 1-0 loss, is what the doctor ordered after Dustin Brown had run Roberto Luongo in the teams’ previous meeting.

Quote: "I thought we did a really good job as far as deciding that ice is also ours. It's something that has been minus from our game a little bit here. That was a big part of our game tonight. We got squat for points. But I think we crossed a couple of bridges in what needs to be done."

In their next game, with all this new-found bonding, the Canucks were hammered 9-1 by the Anaheim Ducks. They followed that with a 1-0 loss in Phoenix.

Jan. 18, 2014 – Tortorella is enraged when Calgary head coach Bob Hartley starts his fourth line and a full scale line brawl ensues at the opening faceoff. One of the Canucks on the ice was rookie Kellan Lain, who was making his NHL debut. Lain’s debut lasted two seconds as he was ejected along with seven other players. During the first intermission, Tortorella stormed the Flames dressing room trying to get at Hartley.

Quote: "I see the starting lineup and I know the other guy across the bench. It's easy for people to say, well, put the Sedins out there and it's deflated. I can't put our players at risk that way. With the lineup he had, I am not going to put those type of players at risk - and that's what ensues. I'm not proud of it. I've apologized to every one of the players involved in it. I don't feel great about it at all, especially for Kellan Lain. That's my biggest mistake, to put Lainer in that lineup and I'll kick myself forever not having someone else there. But I'd do the same thing again if it came that way because I cannot put anybody else out there knowing what's going to happen and knowing the guy across the way."

Jan. 20, 2014 – Tortorella is suspended for 15 days and six games for his actions in the Calgary game. The Canucks win two of the six games.

Quote from NHL executive Colin Campbell: “Mr. Tortorella’s actions in attempting to enter the Calgary Flames locker room after the first period were both dangerous and an embarrassment to the league. Coaches in the NHL bear the responsibility of providing leadership, even when emotions run high, and Mr. Tortorella failed in his responsibility to the game.

Feb. 3, 2014 – Tortorella returns to the bench in Detroit with the Canucks on a three-game losing streak. They proceed to lose their next four games, part of a season-worst seven-game slide.

Quote:"I apologize first and foremost to the players for the situation I put them in, to the organization, with my stupidity, to the league. It's been embarrassing and not just for me, but for everybody around me in the situation that has occurred here. What's happened with it was deserved and I hope it makes me a better coach, but it certainly doesn't stop the situations I put a lot of people in, my other coaches. I want to move past it. We need to worry about our hockey club right now."

March 2, 2014 – Tortorella opts to start rookie Eddie Lack ahead of veteran goalie Roberto Luongo in the Heritage Classic, a game in which Luongo dearly wanted to play. Tortorella alienates Luongo, who never plays another game for the team and is traded two days later to Florida.

Quote: "I have to make decisions not on consensus, but on what I think is best for that team. Louie is pissed. He is not happy. He is proud. I get that. I like the guy. I think he has been terrific for us this year, but this is part of the business. I know it is a very sensitive thing here because of what happened last year and I tell you I weighed that. I did a lot of thinking about that. I have to make decisions right now which I think is going to give our team the best chance to win."

March 10, 2014 – Tortorella coaches the team to one of the biggest meltdowns in club history as the Canucks surrender seven third-period goals to the lowly New York Islanders and fall 7-4. They were up 3-0 after two periods.

Quote: “This is a kick in the teeth and it's certainly going to take a little bit more than the normal coach's speak to move by this game. This is a tough one to eat.”

April 1, 2014 – Tortorella chows down on more humble pie as his old team, the New York Rangers, now coached by Alain Vigneault, come town town in a playoff position while the Canucks are on the outside looking in.

Quote: "We're losing games so I'm the idiot and he's winning games so he's the smart guy - and rightfully so."

April 7, 2014 – Tortorella and the Canucks are officially eliminated from the playoffs by the Anaheim Ducks, losing 3-0 and mustering just 18 shots in a lucklustre performance.

Quote: "It doesn't do anybody any good right now to be critical. Obviously we didn't play well enough but I'm not going to criticize the hockey club right now. We didn't play well."

April 14, 2014 – Tortorella holds a season-ending session with reporters, never once losing his legendary temper. He emphasizes that the team has grown stale and lacks depth.

Quote: “If I'm here, I want to play four lines. But you guys have to understand when you're on a bench ... I did the things I needed to do to try to win games. Because sometimes I looked down there and guys just weren't ready, some guys in our lineup. We lacked depth and that's where we're at. That isn't being critical; it's the truth."

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